Page 4 of Valentine Mine

His birthday.Love Bug’s birthday.Their wedding anniversary.Those would still make her go silent and weepy, but it wasn’t nearly as bad now as it had been years ago.

I suspected whatever was bothering her at the moment had nothing to do with Remington.He was a ghost I’d helped her lay to rest when we got married.But Valentine’s Day, in general, could have been a problem for her.

Me: Maybe that’s why Vi is acting weird.

“Yeah.Ma and Dallas are taking the granddaughters out for a little Galentine’s Day,” Jagger said with a laugh.“The dads are taking Hendrix to something.I don’t really remember.But it’s going to give me some alone time with my wife.And Mia and Barrick are having a date.”

“I forgot about it,” I admitted.“But I still have time to arrange something.”

Thank fuck.

Another text came in from my twin.

Lyric: Still???She seemed off at the game over the weekend.I thought she was just tired.And cold.Didn’t see her without a hoodie on except for a few minutes at the game and that was to show you the jersey she was wearing.It was snowing in Buffalo, though, so we were all freezing.

Me: She’s been wearing hoodies for days.

Lyric: Let’s have a weekend with the wives on the island Gian bought for Monroe.He was complaining to me about her never wanting to visit over Christmas.If Mila wants to go, then Monroe will too.Vi can get rid of that chill.This will make everyone happy!

“Jags,” I muttered, considering my brother’s idea.“What exactly are you and Shaw doing?”

“I can’t go into details with the girls in the car,” he laughed.

I grinned.“Are you going out of town?”

“Hadn’t planned on it.You want to double for dinner?We were going to ask, but things have been insane with everyone’s work schedules lately.I start recording next week for my new solo album.Shaw will be in London for a few days.I would love for us all to go out together, man.”

My thumb hovered over the reply button.I loved my sister-in-law, but if Vi was upset about something, there were only two people I wanted around her.She deserved some extra TLC.“Want to go to a private island for the weekend?”

“Our wives in bikinis on the beach at sunset?”He groaned, and I knew he already had the images in his head, because I sure as fuck did.“Sign me up, brother.”

CHAPTERFOUR

violet

I staredfrom my dad to Luca’s as they stood in our foyer.“No one told me you were taking the boys.”

Dad grinned, picking up Aidan.He and Ciaran were identical, but it was easy to tell them apart if you were looking.Ciaran always had this gleam in his eyes, no matter what shade of brown they were.One that promised chaos and destruction.

Legit his father’s clone.

No matter how prepared the world thought they were for my boys, they never would be.But especially not Ciaran.

“We thought we would surprise you, sweetheart,” Dad said.“You and Luca should celebrate his victory from last weekend.Have some time to yourselves.You deserve it.”

“But all four boys?”I shook my head, dread rolling in my stomach.Not so much for them.He and Jesse were pros at dealing with the maniac twins.Both sets.It was more that I didn’t want to be alone with my husband.

“Your mom already picked up Bug.They are joining Emmie and Dallas for their granddaughter Galentine’s Day.”He took one of the two overnight bags that Luca must have packed and left at the door.Leaning down, he kissed my cheek.“We’re going to order pizza and do manly bonding.”

Jesse snorted as he tightened his hold on Ciaran.We all knew what was going to happen.He would be in charge of the one toddler, while Dad was watching out for Ethan, Elijah, and Aidan.Honestly, my dad had the easier job of the two grandfathers.“What he means is we’re going to watch animated Jack Black movies all weekend.”

“Yay!”Ethan cheered.“Mario Brothers.”

“Yeah!”his twin seconded.

“Peaches.Peaches.Peaches,” my youngest child tried to sing.But he wasn’t the biggest talker yet, so it came out, “Bitches.Bitches.Bitches.”

Dad bit his lips together to stop the laughter I saw shining out of his blue-gray eyes.Clearing his throat, he nudged Ethan with his knee.“You boys kiss your mom and then head to the car.”

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